Today, my students start out at their seats and we discuss how we started our Google Drive Presentations two days ago on our favorite Greek myths. I ask the students if they have any questions about their work from yesterday. So far there are no questions, so it’s time to get into the next advanced feature we’ll work with today.

Today we will continue our work in the computer lab, so if the students are not finished entering their text, that will be their first task. Also, if students have not yet changed their background or text, they’ll be able to do that today as well. In addition however, the new feature we’ll work on today is to add images. I begin again today by having a student guide me through the process of getting into Google Drive and finding and reopening our work that was started yesterday.

Once here though, I share how to insert images. I give the students a few options today. First, students will be able to enter clip art that goes along with their myth. Prior to today’s lesson, I’ve created a folder of clip art for each myth we’ve read. Based on the myth that each student has chosen, I have shared the one folder of clip art for that myth with the student. I show the students how to insert an image by going to the “Insert” menu, and then clicking on “Images”. Once here, when each student goes into their “Shared with Me” section, they’ll find that I’ve shared this folder with them so that they’ll be able to choose and insert pictures that go along with their favorite myth.

Additionally, students will have the option to add shapes and speech bubbles today as well. I show the students how to access and insert shapes through the shapes button. Students that incorporate the speech bubbles feature will be able to add phrases above the clip art of characters that match their myth (ie: above King Midas, a student may want to say, “I love gold!”).

After sharing these two ways to add images today (through clip art and shapes/speech bubbles), I ask if there are any questions. After answering a few simple questions (such as “Can I delete the image if I don’t want it anymore?”), we are ready to get started!

Now that we have walked through the process of getting into and working with these two features, I tell the students that it’s time to get working! Today, the students have quite a bit of options open to them, including: focusing on finishing any text, changing the background or theme if they have not already, changing the text font, size, an color if they have not already, and inserting images into our presentation today. In our school, we have access to a device for all of our students by visiting our school computer lab. At this point, I remind students to make sure they have their graphic organizer templates and then we line up to head to the computer lab.

Resources (1)

Resources

Once in the computer lab, students get logged in and get started on their work. After logging in, the students are really in charge of their work. They work slide by slide and add their information and opinions, change the background or theme, change the text font, size, and color, and inserting images. As the students work, I circulate and really just check in on students making sure they’re working okay and offering assistance as needed.

At the end of our time together today, I confirm for the students that even though we’re out of time today, we’ll come back tomorrow and work some more on our presentations. We’re getting very close to being finished with these awesome presentations! We’ll continue our important work tomorrow!